Top Ranked Ph.D. Program in Psychology Profile: Columbia University
As an esteemed institution of higher education, Columbia University is seventeenth among the nation’s best graduate schools in psychology, according to U.S. News and World reports top program rankings. Getting admitted to the doctoral program in psychology is by no means as simple as apply with top GPA and GRE scores. Admissions committees comprised of professors and graduate students look for academic brilliance, aptitude, prior research experience, and faculty-student fit. One of the first steps when contemplating applying to one of the doctoral programs in psychology is to determine whether the area of study you’re interested is indeed available for graduate study. Columbia’s psychology Ph.D. program offers training in the following areas:
- Behavioral Neuroscience
- Sensation and Perception
- Cognition
Top ranking Ph.D. programs look closely among many application packets for deserving students who they are convinced will benefit with the program. One of the most favorable things you can do is prepare a compelling personal statement that indicates high degree of motivation and inclination for research.
Generally speaking, overall aptitude for the psychology program is judged via the GRE scores and GPA. However, these are not hard-and-fast rules, as many applicants meet these criteria but are still not offered admission to the program. According to Columbia’s Department of Psychology, the profile of an admitted student includes a combined score of 1200 for the verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE. GRE psychology scores are not required, but instead highly recommended to round out your application package. Given the high level of competitiveness that exists for the admission, it may be a good idea to study hard for the GRE Psychology subject test and perform well. Of course, other factors such as personal statements and letters of recommendation figure prominently in the admissions process.
One of the common mistakes that students make in applying to Columbia and other top graduate programs in psychology is not doing their homework first. Applying to the program for an area of psychology that is not offered is akin to throwing away your application fee. Also failing to contact professors you would like to work with beforehand, as doctoral programs work on an apprenticeship model, is another detriment to getting in this prestigious Ph.D. program. Professors, who sit on the admissions committees, may be more inclined to accept you as a student based on demonstrated interest and prior interaction. This can be accomplished through asking questions about their program of research via email or even facilitating a campus visit. Tips and strategies like these tend to work very effectively in seeking acceptance to research-oriented top programs in psychology.
